December 2013

December 28, 2013

CHICAGO -- Not long after the Dallas Mavericks had ripped through the Chicago Bulls with a 105-83 shellacking Saturday night at the United Center, guard Monta Ellis was trying his best to downplay the lop-sided victory.

"The biggest thing is we've got to build on this,'' said Ellis, who poured in a game-high 22 points. "We can't be too excited about it.

"We've got to still go back to the drawing board and see where we can get better at. And the biggest thing is when we share the ball, everybody getting the ball, we're a whole lot better team.''

CHICAGO -- Forward Shawn Marion had the ideal explanation on why the Dallas Mavericks were able to stumped the critics and manhandle the Chicago Bulls, 105-83, Saturday night at the United Center.

"We were just focused,'' Marion said. "Everybody was helping, everybody was communicating, we were sharing the ball, and our assertiveness and alertness were both on point tonight.

"I think we just went out there and with our presence we felt like we were going to be here.''

The 22-point win was the Mavs' largest margin of victory this season. It also showed they can match physical play with one of the teams that brings a lot of physicality to the floor.

"They believe in playing physical throughout the whole game and they made a couple of runs, which we knew they were going to do,'' Marion said. "But we were able to sustain it and come up with a good victory.''

-- Dwain Price

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"We qweere just focuxeed. everyody was helping, everyvobdy was communicating,w e wree shairng the ball and our assertivness and alertness werere both on point to;night.

CHICAGO -- Key buckets by Monta Ellis helped the Dallas Mavericks cut short any attempt of a Chicago Bulls' comeback Saturday night at the United Center.

The Mavs led 86-54 late in the third quarter, and then held off the Bulls and won convincingly, 105-83.

Chicago (11-17) crawled within 86-72 miway through the fourth quarter and finally got the crowd into the game. But Vince Carter scored on a drive and Ellis followed with a jumper to put the Mavs ahead 90-72.

The Bulls managed to get within 14 points again (95-81), only to see Brandan Wright score, Ellis drain a jumper over Joakim Noah, and Dirk Nowitzki fire in a three-pointer to pad the Mavs' lead to 102-81 with 2:17 left.

"Monta the guy that answered just about ewvery one of their runs with either a dsirve, or a pull-up mid-range shot or a three,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. "Dirk hit the one big three towards the end.

"But during the game Monta hit about three or four of those when they were starting to get a little momentum going offensively that really helpd us. And he did a really good job defensively tonight.''

Ellis finished the night with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting.

CHICAGO – The Dallas Mavericks didn’t think they were going to have an easy time at the United Center on Saturday night. But they did.

Monta Ellis scored 22 points and the Mavs opened a three-game road trip by breezing to a relatively easy 105-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Mavs are now 17-13 going into Monday’s game in Minnesota.

Other than a brief rally by the Bulls early in the fourth quarter when the Mavs missed their first seven shots and Chicago got within 86-72, Dallas was in complete control of this game.

The Mavs led 61-34 at the half and by as much as 32 points (86-54) when Vince Carter scored late in the third quarter.

Other than Ellis, the Mavs got 18 points apiece from Dirk Nowitzki and Carter, and 14 points and 13 rebounds from Shawn Marion.

Joakim Noah led the Bulls (11-17) with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson each tallied 13 points.

DALLAS -- Andrew Bynum and his representatives met with the Dallas Mavericks this past July 10 when he became a free agent.

The Mavs obviously passed on the chance to sign Bynum, who eventually signed an incentive-laced, two-year, $24 million contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Cavs suspended the 7-foot center on Saturday for conduct detrimental to the team and reportedly are in the process of trying to trade him.

Bynum is only 26 years old. But he has two bum knees and apparently lacks the desire it takes to play any more at this level.

Will the Mavs, who have had reboundng and interior defensive issues this season, re-visit their interest in Bynum? Probably not.

CHICAGO -- Following a one-game absence because of a stomach illness, Dallas center Brandan Wright will be back on the court tonight at 7 at the United Center when the Mavericks square off against the Chicag Bulls.

Forward Dirk Nowitzki said the Mavs missed Wright's presence Thursday night when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 116-107.

"His length, his athleticism, he can play above the rim, finish above the rim, grab some rebounds, block some shots,'' Nowitzki said after this morning's shootaround. "He's a big player for us.

"We missed him early on in the season for a long time, and we’re happy he's back.''

CHICAGO -- Remember that kitchen sink the Dallas Mavericks threw at Houston's Dwight Howard this past Monday? They're going to have to throw it at the Chicago Bulls with the two clubs meet tonight at 7 at the United Center.

There aren't many NBA teams who are as physical as the Bulls, who, ironically, play like a Bull in a china shop and take physicality to a whole new level.

The Mavs (16-13) also understands that they can fall into the trap of looking at the Bulls' woeful 11-16 record and believing tonight is going to be an easy game. Chicago's has been besieged with injuries, including losing former league Most Valuable Player guard Derrick Rose indefinitely with a knee injury after he played just 10 games this season.

But the Bulls still have enough bruisers on their roster in Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah who can probably suit up for the Bears, who will host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday for the NFC North title.

"I don’t think we’ve played a team quite like them in terms of their physicality,'' Carlisle said of the Bulls. "Maybe Memphis, but they did have (Marc) Gasol in the last game.

"It's really what this league is all about right now. It's who wants it more.''

December 27, 2013

DALLAS -- Mark Cuban said he was happy the NBA stepped up Thursday and admitted that Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin should not have been ejected from Wednesday's game against the Golden State Warriors.

“I think it leads to fans trusting everybody involved more,” the Dallas Mavericks' owner said. “We’re still the only sport where people question the integrity sometimes, and I hate that more than anything because I know the integrity is above reproach.”

Cuban didn't blame the officiating crew that tossed Griffin, who got tangled up with Warriors center Andrew Bogut and was tossed from the game after receiving his second technical foul. But he applauds the NBA for admitting it made a mistake.

"Just like players miss free throws, guys are going to miss calls,” Cuban said. “But we have to have transparency with the fans.

"You’re only transparent when you think your guys are good. You’re only not transparent when you don’t think your employees are good. I think what the league did was a great first step.”